_THE TRAINER'S SUGGESTION_
When Jack Redland and Barry Tuxford arrived in Sydney, it was arranged
that the former should go to Randwick and ascertain if Joel Kenley would
take charge of Lucky Boy.
"He will probably have received a letter from his brother about you,"
said Barry, "and that will serve as an introduction."
Nothing loath, Jack went by train and found his way to Joel Kenley's
house.
The trainer's stables were at lower Randwick, where he had a comfortable
house and about a score horse boxes. Jack was favourably impressed with
his first glimpse of the "Newmarket" of New South Wales. He saw the
racecourse as the train went past and wound at a steady pace up the
hill. He had no difficulty in finding Joel Kenley's, for the first man
he asked said, in reply to his question,--
"Know where Joel lives, I should say so, there's not many people
hereabouts do not know him."
"A celebrated trainer, is he?" asked Jack.
"You may well say that. He's won nearly all our big races at one time
and another, and he's about as clever as any man can be with horses."
Jack thought his informant looked like an old jockey, and was about to
ask him if his surmise was correct, when the man saved him the trouble
by saying with a smile,--
"I see you have sized me up. I was a well known rider fifteen years ago,
but I got too old fashioned, it's the young 'uns get all the luck in
these days."
"I was going to ask you if you were a jockey," said Jack. "It does seem
rather hard lines that a man who has given the best part of his life to
his work should be discarded when he is old. I suppose you made
sufficient to live on?"